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So I recommend the enjoyment ⌞of life⌟. People have nothing better to do under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves. This joy will stay with them while they work hard during their brief lives which God has given them under the sun. (Eccl 8:15 GW) [context– Eccl 8:14-17]
Our frustrations
We all get frustrated with circumstances, life situations, and people.
But our frustrations are of our own making because of the expectations we have of people and events in life.
This is evident by saying things like, “I just don’t understand why they insist on doing (or not doing) [such and such]…” or “Why is this allowed to continue?” or ”How could this happen?
When something doesn’t sit right with us, we tend to question or challenge it. Our expectations in life or of people tend to be based on our experiences in childhood. These expectations show how we think things should or should not be.
And so, depending on our personal level of tolerance, the amount of frustration we experience in life depends on how well we manage our expectations or allow them to manage us.
How well we manage our expectations is most often related to our enjoyment of life.
Have you ever noticed how people who seem to be easy-going also seem to enjoy life? Perhaps you’re one of those people. If not, you either envy them or resent them. Why? Because of your own expectations.
Can how we handle or manage our expectations determine whether we are a person who sees the glass as half-full or half-empty? Perhaps.
Can we change how we manage our expectations? I believe so. Can we influence others or can they influence us to better manage our expectations? Yes, this I know from experience. My wife’s influence on me.
Why is it important to learn how to manage our expectations?
Let’s consider Solomon’s observations and conclusions made at the end of Chapter 8.
Insights
These last few verses in Ecclesiastes 8 repeat and reinforce Solomon’s earlier existential reflections.
This isn’t Solomon thinking in circles, as if he’s forgotten what he said before. It’s intentional. It’s like saying, “Don’t get lost or caught up in what you don’t understand.”
In verse 14, Solomon observes what we might call the inverse of the law of retribution or the inverse of the law of sowing and reaping. It is the exact opposite of what we expect or want.
This prompts questions like— “Why do bad things happen to good people?”
Solomon points out what we might say, “It’s just not fair!” He sees this as another “pointless” reality of life under the sun.
This is familiar to Solomon’s thought in Ecclesiastes 3:16, which reminds us of the existence of evil. It’s a reality. Something we can neither erase nor resolve.
After this observation, Solomon returns to a thought he introduced earlier (Eccl 2:24-25; 3:12-13; 5:18-20). It’s common for verse 15 to be misunderstood or misconstrued, especially the phrase, “…eat, drink, and be merry” (Eccl 3:15 NKJV ).
It can be distorted into a misrepresented version of Epicurean philosophy. This is addressed by the apostle Paul (in 1 Cor 15:32) and alluded to by Jesus (Luke 12:19).
But this is not an encouragement by Solomon to “party-on” and forget about everything else. It needs to be understood within its context here in these verses and the intended purpose for the writing of Ecclesiastes (Eccl 12:13-14).
First, keep in mind the other thought Solomon reiterates—pursuing wisdom as an end-all-be-all answer will not resolve all of life’s mysteries (verses 16-17). All that God does is beyond our grasp. Even for those who claim to have all the answers.
This final thought in Chapter 8 reaches back to Chapter 3 where Solomon declares all things in life have a time and purpose for but the future is beyond our capacity to know.
This is why Solomon encourages us to enjoy our life the best we can because it’s the way we are given to endure the work we are given to do. It is a way to manage our expectations in life and not become overly frustrated with life under the sun.
Existential Reflections
A popular adage of our day is expressed in various ways but here it is in a nutshell— “Don’t worry about what you can’t control, focus on what you can control.”
Even this sentiment may be more than a person can handle at certain points in their life. I prefer the simplicity and beauty of the Serenity Prayer by Rheinhold Niebuhr—
God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference.
Things beyond our control only have power over us because of our expectations about them. Yes, of course, some circumstances, life situations, and even some people may exert power over us at times. But their power is not supreme nor sovereign—God is.
The year 2020 was filled with many unexpected and unwanted disappointments, frustrations, hardships, and tragedies. And that’s an understatement for many of us.
But one year is not forever, There have been much darker times in world history. However, we only know for sure what we experience ourselves.
When we manage our expectations, we can exert a sense of control over what is beyond our control.
When it comes to expectations, we can be like a child at Christmas time with a wishlist that exceeds reality. But this will set us up for great disappointments and frustrations.
How can we better handle whatever is to come in the future?
We can choose to appreciate and value what we do have in our lives rather than what we don’t. It’s not just a “count your blessings” mindset but a choice to not dwell on our disappointments.
Most, if not all, disappointments are the result of unmet expectations. And most of those unmet expectations come from misplaced trust.
It is a given that people will disappoint us sooner or later. We all disappoint and let others down in some way or another over time.
Many of our expectations are either unrealistic or unreasonable or both.
If none of us knows the future—and none of us do—then we need to live our lives more in the present. I’m not speaking of mindfulness, although that may be helpful too.
I believe this is what Solomon intends when he says—
So I recommend the enjoyment ⌞of life⌟. People have nothing better to do under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves. This joy will stay with them while they work hard during their brief lives which God has given them under the sun. (Eccl 8:15 GW)
Simple enjoyment of life is a gift from God to help us endure life under the sun. This isn’t wishful thinking nor a denial of reality.
Having lived overseas for many years and traveling to some remote areas in SE Asia, Ethiopia, and the South Pacific, I’ve witnessed people who have learned to find simple enjoyment in their lives.
It is easy for someone like me from a more prosperous nation to focus on what people don’t have in less prosperous nations.
While overseas, I heard many American visitors say, “These people seem to be so joyful with so little in life.” Exactly! But you don’t have to travel to a remote village somewhere to learn this.
When you learn to find joy in the life you have instead of longing for more or what others have, it will eliminate many frustrations.
Do you see what is good in your life or dwell on your disappointments?
Do endless frustrations seem to haunt you or can you let go of unrealistic and unreasonable expectations?
It’s your choice each day.
I choose to enjoy life the best I can as a gift from God every day.
This is an excerpt from my newest book available on Amazon! Glimmers of Light in the Darkness of Life
The Scripture text for this devotional study can be found by clicking the blue button link– “Ecclesiastes Chap 8” [I’ve used God’s Word Translation (GW) for ease of reading but the button link will take you to the text in a parallel version with the NKJV text.]
Also, for further commentary, I recommend Enduring Word by Ptr David Guzik.
